Vancouver Canucks fires coach John Tortorella

VANCOUVER, Canada, May 1 (Xinhua) -- The Vancouver Canucks fired head coach John Tortorella and assistant coach Mike Sullivan on Thursday, citing the reason of a fresh start for the team.

The team said in a press release that the moves came as new president of hockey operations Trevor Linden was trying to put his own stamp on the Canucks. Linden was hired last month, a day after former president and general manager Mike Gillis was fired.

"This was a tough decision," Linden told a news conference here on Thursday. "I have a great deal of respect for John and Mike, and what they've accomplished in their coaching careers."

The Canucks got off to a promising start under Tortorella but won just 11 of their last 41 games, finishing at 36-35-11 and missing the playoffs. Vancouver's 25th-overall finish was its worst in 14 years.

"Today is about the future and the goal of getting this team back to the Stanley Cup playoffs," Linden continued. "My vision it to bring exciting, winning hockey back to Rogers Arena with the ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup."